Price Control and Champing at a Monopoly Bit

It's been more than three years since China enacted an anti-monopoly law that's often mocked as a toothless tiger. Now, finally, this critical section of the nation's so-called economic constitution could be changing to give it a bite – if decision-makers will let it.

The National Development and Reform Commission recently announced two sets of regulations aimed at addressing price-fixing practices by monopolies, effective February 1. The rules unambiguously empower authorities to investigate and penalize firms engaged in price-fixing, underscoring the government's determination to improve the existing law.